The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-08-26
LITTLE LILY.

LITTLE LILY.
Her Mysterious Disappearance
and Her Recovery.
Uncle Abe, untidy in person from an
hours employment in the coal cellar,
yet, despite all. the very incarnation
of family dignity, rose from his resting
place by the area walk. aud called af-
Ter me, as ran up the steps: '.Msrse
VIII! Dat bad mans done beesl here
agin, an he low he gwin@r fotch
,Lizy wild him mex week"
lit is so," affirmed my wife, who
was waiting for me al the door. She
added in an under:one: Il wish you'd
talk with Abe, and try to reconcile him
1 to the change"
Noah Peters, the ''bad man." was to
Uncle Ate the embodiment of evil. To
all others, Peters seemed hard-work-
ing, mild-tempered, and mild-man-
cered negro; but his father-in-law-for
that was the relation which my faith
full old colored friend held to him
was disposed to consider him an alto
,yether worthless character. Nothing
could persuade Uncle Abe that Noah
was fitted to be any thing better in life
than "botheration" to the unfortu-
nate persons whom fate made his asso-
ciafes.
To be sure, when Noah and Eliza
were married, Uncle Abe witnessed
the ceremony and took part in the fes-
Invites. Later on, when the mothers
life went out when little Eliza was born,
he wept with his grief stricken son-in-
law, and did his Lest to help him bear
the burden. Both he and Aunt Della
opened their hearts to the motherless
babe, and the father and child were
made heartily welcome at the little
homestead which Uncle Abe had tOiled
20 hard to gain.
For three years there was no break
in the ties of mutual esteem which
bound Uncle Abe to Noah. Then the
Latter, delighted with the winsome ways
of his baby, proposed to her grandpar-
ents that he should employ a house.
keeper and take the child to brighten
his lonely home. Against this step the
old man vigorously protested; and find
ing that, though Noah did not press the
subject, he was still resolved on max
ing the change, Abe's good opinion of
his son-in-law gave place to something
like aversion.
-.He's de most obstinatest man cher
seed" Uncle Abe complained. when
the agitation first began. He can't
say muffin, on'y 'dat's my baby!' He
dom hold no argument only he comes
right back onto dat!''
Several months elapsed after Noah
first preached the suggestion which
was SO coolly received, and he said lit
lie about the child's removal; but, as
afterwards appeared. he did not abate
his determination to possess her. Reg
ularly, on Sunday, Della said, he Wis
tied them, laden with candy for Ibis
baby and all of Abe's efforts during
the week did not avail to obliterate
from the child's mind favorable i'm
preston of her father.
Now, it seemed, the crisis had come,
Noah. having once decided to take little
Eliza to himself, would pursue his pur-
pose with that unflinching pertinacity
which is sometimes the characteristic
of ''easy-going'' men. 1t was just and
right, knew, that he should hold his
only near and dear one, yet l feared
the effect which the loss of their pet
would have upon her grandparents.
As these thoughts crossed my mind.
i descended the steps and went to Uncle
Abe, who stood still in the attitude of
deep detection. The low seat on the
tagging, from which he had risen,
faced basement window. Inside,
Aunt Della was beating eggs. pausing
now and then to wipe her eyes
''What does Noah say, Uncle Abe?''
I asked.
Abe's rambling answer, given in q
weak and wandering voice. was empha-
sized with frequent sobs and ejacula-
lions by listening Della
He done says he amt got no call to
wait De low-down niggers is twittin'
him dat he KANT Ia keer OBJ his baby,
an he lows he won't stan it. He got
Miss Nancy Riggs TO work over t his
house, an Lily won't be no harm, he
say, fer gwine home. l done telled him
he oughter have her be brung up same
way her mudder was, cl' ar oh de mean
niggers an de white trash. Den he
say his fodder b'longed to Marse Ran
.dolph's folks 'foah de wah, same's
men DEFY, an he knowed how to
brung up childun. dom see no help
fort; recken dat baby got ter CO."
4.Bress de little lamb" sounded Aunt
Delia's hollow voice. from the reccsses
of the pantry, It'll jes' bout kill
me, 'spect!''
'.Noah doesn't intend to make his
home away from the city, does he?" I
aSked